Lancs man jailed over veterinary medicines offences

A man has been jailed for six months after pleading guilty to 19 offences involving veterinary medicines at Preston Crown Court.

Robert Hughes, an agricultural engineer and trader, pleaded guilty to the sale of prescription only medicines and the importation of unauthorised veterinary medicines.

The case was brought by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate and is the culmination of a series of investigations involving farms in the north-west of England.

In April 2004, DEFRA officials accompanied by the local police searched premises owned by Mr Hughes in Carnforth, Lancs and a large number of medicines were seized.

This is the third time that Mr Hughes has been prosecuted for veterinary medicine offences. On the previous occasion he was fined £10,000 and £8500.